Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-11-05
TRYING A NEW EXPLOSIVE.
Said 10 Beat Dynamite and Yet TO BE
Usable In Firearms.


A dozen or more gentlemen interested
in explosives assembled yesterday at the
home of DIR. Stephen IL. Emmenss,
Prospect avenue and One-hundred-
ard-sixty-ftth street, 10 sec some
experiments, in which DR.. Emmens
was assisted by Count George de
Kappelle and by his son Newton Em-
mems. DIR. Emmans's new explosive is
composed OF two cheap and easily OBJ
tanned materials. One is product
from coal and the other mineral sub
stance. The mixture may be pounded
in a mortar, and neither ingredient sepa-
rately shows any trace of an explosive
nature. Another quality which is pecu-
liar to Emmensite, as the mixture is
called, is that itmay be melted and fused
into any shape as solid block, OF may
be granulated in various sizes; conse-
auently it may be used as either high
or low explosive. According to DIR.
Emmens's computations, it can exert a
pressure of 2S3 tors to the square inch,
the next highest pressure being exerted
ly pure nitro glyceTine-264 tons. The
speed of explosion is greater than that
OF any other practicable explosive ex-
ccpt illuminate of mercury. When used
in compact form its highest possiblli-
ties OF speed are obtained, and 1t is then
suitable as blasting agent. When
manufactured in the form OF powder,
the rapidity of explosion is lessened in
proportion to the coarseness OF the
grains, and 1t may then be employed IN
firearms 1t is fired by detonator.
Yesterday 92-calibre Smith x Wes-
son was fired from distance of six feet
at an iron plate one sixteenth OF an inch
thick. With four grains of Emmensite
the ball nearly pierced the plate, while
with ten grains of powder the ball made
only an indentation. After several pls-
toll experiments the party went into the
yard of DR.. Emmenss house. A leaden
hemisphere was placed on a rock, and
upon it were placed successfully one
ounce cartridges of gunpowder, explo-
sive gelatine, dynamite, and Emmensite.
While the other explosives bent the
lead. it was shattered by the En-
mensite. An iron plate six inches
square was then suspended from the
branch of tree. A one. ounce dyna-
mite cartridge placed on the plate sim
ply bent it. cartridge of explosive gela-
tine almost broke it, while the same
amount of Emmensite made a hole as
large as a mans fist through similar
plate. Then, to show that the explosive
would strike upward as well as down
ward, q cartridge was suspended and
leaden hemisphere was placed over it;
After the explosion the lead was found
to be not only shattered on the under
side, but on its upper side also. The
explanation is that the explosion took
place with such rapidity as to force tho
gases through the pores of the lead-a
thing which happens when the outer
plates of piece OF artillery are injured
and the inner plates remain unaffected
by the shock. =,
A piece OF Emmensite was immersed
in barrel OF water for minute and
half and then exploded readily. Ex-
periments were also given showing the
value of the invention for pyrotechnical
purposes. In its ordinary state Emmen.
site is a yellow powder, and is a powerful
dye. The hair and beard of DR.. Emmens
and Count de Kappelle have become n
brilliant blonde from their constant
handling Of it. A quantity OF 1t has
been prepared for Lieutenant Zalinskl
for the use of his dynamite gun